A wild elephant resisted all attempts at taming, until the gentle King Gaspar asked the giant creature to travel with him to see the Messiah. This elephant is a part of the Fontanini Heirloom 5" Collection. Hand-painted polymer. 1993 Introduction Item #72525

Sheep provided clothing, food, even milk. Shepherds' tales passed down through time describe the tender and affectionate nature of these loving animals.Hand-painted polymer.Set of 5.1998 IntroductionAll five sheep are about 1½" tall.Fontanini #72539 Bronner #1011158.

Three young brothers were separated after the death of their mother. Years later, they found each other while staying at the Bethlehem inn and singing a marvelous harmony together. Hand-painted polymer, 5". 1990 Introduction No. 65182

World-famous Fontanini figurines originated in Tuscany, Italy. Collectors all over the globe treasure Fontanini nativities and Fontanini nativity figurine sets. The Fontanini figures go through a rigorous process, making them valuable, unique, and extremely high in quality. Members of the Fontanini family usually come together with a design team, which includes a master sculptor, to come up with new ideas for the Fontanini figurines, a collectible Italian nativity.
In the process of making Fontanini nativities, first the Fontanini figures are hand sculpted. These are usually created from an original drawing by someone on the Fontanini team. Then, the clay sculpture is remade out of beeswax from the approved, final design. The sculpture is then made into a mold using rubber or metal, which will be used repeatedly for mass production. The final mold is used for the nativities until the team decides it should be retired, making Fontanini Italian nativities a rare and collectible item distributed by Roman Inc.
In the final process of Fontanini nativities, each piece is hand painted to ensure character and quality. The first step in painting the figures is the clothing. Usually, the painting team forms a sort of assembly line, where each member paints a different part of the clothing. Another special team, who ensure the most accurate and detailed of expressions, paints the facial features. When the figure has been painted and dried completely, a patina finish is added. Then the story card team develops a story for each figure. Fontanini nativities have become a popular choice for Christmas nativity sets, and are highly valued and treasured by all who receive them. Creche collectors appreciate the ease of adding to the set each year, and since the figurines are made of polymer, they are good for households with youngsters or pets as they resist breaking. The Fontanini family have passed the traditions down from one generation to the next, for 100 years.